It has been a while since I posted a Soldbuch here, so let me show you all my newest addition, a Kriegsmarine Soldbuch, the lay-out is a bit different then for WH examples but the basic principal is the same.
Hans Hartkopf (°1908) was a tailor from Zamow, he started his military service in May ’41, after a few weeks of basic training he was assigned to Marine Flak Abteilung 244, a navy anti aircraft artillery unit based in Wesermünde; on February 17 ’42he was transferred to Marine Flak Abteilung 810.
Mar Flak Abt 810 was based in Vlissingen as a part of “Seeverteidigung Südholland”, Hans Hartkopf was a member of the eight battery, they were equipped with six 3.7cm – and nine 2cm Flak guns.
He must have been a successful crewmember because already on July 9 ’42 he was awarded the “Kriegsabzeichen für Marine Artillerie”, the navy flak proficiency badge.
There were most likely much worse place to be based during the war then on the Dutch island Walcheren, but to there relatively peaceful existence in and around Vlissingen comes an end in early September ’44; after the German defeat in Normandy the entire 15[SUP]th[/SUP] Army is trapped south of the Schelde river and the only way of escape is ferrying the entire army over the Schelde river estuary north of Antwerp; the lighter caliber Flakguns of Mar Flak Abt 810 as part of HAKO Vlissingen (harbor command Vlissingen) are used to protect the vital roads to the ferry crossing Breskens-Vlissingen.
After the successful retreat of the 15[SUP]th[/SUP] Army the Flak gunners of Mar Flak Abt 810 remainon Walcheren as a part of the fortress garrison.
Liberating the estuary of the Schelde river is a difficult task for the allies, theGermans on Walcheren are well dug in there Atlantik Wall fortifications and it will take the allieds months to hard fighting to defeat the Germans dug in on Walcheren.
Hans Hartkopf will be taken POW on Walcheren in early November '44.
A Wiki page with some background info on the battle for Walcheren:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Walcheren_Causeway
Enjoy looking at the images.
There aresome nice details to be seen in this Soldbuch, for example in August ’43 he wasissued a polish rifle with 60 bullets, his KM artillery uniform,…etc.
Cheers,
Peter
Hans Hartkopf (°1908) was a tailor from Zamow, he started his military service in May ’41, after a few weeks of basic training he was assigned to Marine Flak Abteilung 244, a navy anti aircraft artillery unit based in Wesermünde; on February 17 ’42he was transferred to Marine Flak Abteilung 810.
Mar Flak Abt 810 was based in Vlissingen as a part of “Seeverteidigung Südholland”, Hans Hartkopf was a member of the eight battery, they were equipped with six 3.7cm – and nine 2cm Flak guns.
He must have been a successful crewmember because already on July 9 ’42 he was awarded the “Kriegsabzeichen für Marine Artillerie”, the navy flak proficiency badge.
There were most likely much worse place to be based during the war then on the Dutch island Walcheren, but to there relatively peaceful existence in and around Vlissingen comes an end in early September ’44; after the German defeat in Normandy the entire 15[SUP]th[/SUP] Army is trapped south of the Schelde river and the only way of escape is ferrying the entire army over the Schelde river estuary north of Antwerp; the lighter caliber Flakguns of Mar Flak Abt 810 as part of HAKO Vlissingen (harbor command Vlissingen) are used to protect the vital roads to the ferry crossing Breskens-Vlissingen.
After the successful retreat of the 15[SUP]th[/SUP] Army the Flak gunners of Mar Flak Abt 810 remainon Walcheren as a part of the fortress garrison.
Liberating the estuary of the Schelde river is a difficult task for the allies, theGermans on Walcheren are well dug in there Atlantik Wall fortifications and it will take the allieds months to hard fighting to defeat the Germans dug in on Walcheren.
Hans Hartkopf will be taken POW on Walcheren in early November '44.
A Wiki page with some background info on the battle for Walcheren:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Walcheren_Causeway
Enjoy looking at the images.
There aresome nice details to be seen in this Soldbuch, for example in August ’43 he wasissued a polish rifle with 60 bullets, his KM artillery uniform,…etc.
Cheers,
Peter
